Amongst others the listed Regulations (and the following) have to be complied with (if applicable):
- Directive 76/769/EEC...relating to restrictions on the marketing and the use of certain dangerous substances and preparations
- Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste
- Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety
- Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS)
- Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 ... concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)*
- EC Commission Decision 2009/251/EC (products containing the biocide dimethylfumarate are forbidden)
- Order #39 of the Ministry of Information Industry, Management Methods for Controlling Pollution caused by Electronic Information Products (ACPEIP) from the People's Republic of China
*The supplier has to approve that no Substance of Very High Concern of the "Candidate List" exceeds more than 0,1 % of the global weight of the delivered item (without packaging of the item).
PAH and phthalates:
Since the toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are often found in elastomers (plastics and rubber materials), black or dark-coloured polymers and coatings, we expect the PAH in the delivered articles to be reduced to lowest possible level – at least below the following defined limits by the German Committee for Technical Equipment and Consumer Products (AtAV) which also have to be complied with for GS certification:
Parameter limits for materials
with foreseen contact with skin |
Exposure to
the skin < 30 sec |
Exposure to
the skin > 30 sec |
| Benzo[a]pyrene mg/kg |
20 |
1 |
| Sum of 16 PAHs (EPA) mg/kg |
200 |
10 |
Also phthalates are used as plasticizers and pose a risk to health. For this reason the concentration of phthalates in toys sold in the EC market is not allowed to exceed 1 mg/kg. Since it is expected that these limitations will be adopted for electrical tools, we require the compliance with these set limits.
The following substances are defined as phthalates:
- Diisononyl phthalate
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
- Di-n-octyl phthalate
- Diisodecyl phthalate
- Butyl benzyl phthalate
- Bis(n-butyl)phthalate
We expect our suppliers to use safer plasticizers with better biodegradability and less biochemical effects. Exceptions are to be agreed separately.
